Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday (November 20, 2022) said fuel import from India through pipeline will start from next year.

“Bangladesh wanted to import fuel from India through pipeline, and hopefully it will be done in the next year,” she said.

The Prime Minister said this while Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban.

He was leading a four-member delegation.

PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

Read more: Govt working to revise renewable energy policy: Recent primary fuels crisis a reason

The 130km India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFPL) project aims to export oil products from the Siliguri Marketing Terminal in West Bengal state to Bangladesh.

Sheikh Hasina also said that the border haats between Bangladesh and India, in different parts of the border of the two countries, will resume function as those were stopped during the pandemic.

Sheikh Hasina extended thanks to the Assam delegation for the visit and said Bangladesh always wants and promotes good relations with neighbours.

Referring to exchange of enclaves with India, she said the two countries resolved many disputes through discussion.

Putting emphasis on regional cooperation, she said Nepal, Bhutan and India’s north-eastern states including Assam and Tripura can use Chattogram port and airport, and Syedpur airport for mutual benefits.

Sheikh Hasina also pointed out the connectivity routes which were closed during the 1965 India-Pakistan war and said, the routes are being opened in phases.

The prime minister also recalled with gratitude the contribution of the north-eastern states of India and West Bengal for sheltering freedom fighters and refugees from Bangladesh during 1971.

At the meeting, the Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker said, they had a great experience in Bangladesh and Assam will benefit from cooperation with Bangladesh.

The delegation stressed the need for strengthening people to people contact as well as trade and commerce in the region.

Biswajit Daimary said, Assam wants cooperation in agriculture sector from the experts of Bangladesh as the country has extensive experience in the sector.

Read more: PM seeks Saudi fuel with deferred payment schedule

He mentioned that peaceful environment is now prevailing in the north eastern region of India after Bangladesh extended cooperation to this end.

The delegation also appreciated Bangladesh’s unprecedented development under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Ahmad Kailuas was present.